Damper and draft controlling device.



3 VHS C. U. EDWARDS.

DAMPER AND DRAFT CONTROLLING DEVICE.

ILED DEC-7.1915. I

APPLICATION F v 1,217,927. PatentedMar.6,1917.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

C. U. EDWARDS. DAMPER AND DRAFT CONTROLLING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 2, 1915.

Patented Mar. (3, 1917.

' 2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

SAS PATENT CARLETON ULA. EDWARDS, OEFORT HUNT, VIRGINIA.

DAMPER AND DRAFT CON TROLLIN G DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 6, 1917.

Application filed December 7, 1915; Serial No. 65,556.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known .that I, CARLE'roN U. E1)- wARos, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fort Hunt, in the county of Fairfax and State of Virginia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Damper and Draft Controlling Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to temperature regulating devices broadly and particularly towhich the consumption of electricity and water or other fluid is reduced to a minimum.

Another object is to provide a safety device arran ed to be operated in'connection with the a ove mentioned apparatus which will avoid accidents resultant of overheating in case the electrical control apparatus fails to operate.

A further object is to provide a fluid motor arranged to operate with the above mentioned apparatus which is compact in form, requires but little water to operate and is positive in its action.

The invention consists further in the novelv construction and arrangement of parts together with their operation and will be more fully described and set forth in the following specification and claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view illus trating the relative arrangement of the different parts of the complete apparatus as connected to the dampers of a steam heating boiler.

Fig. 2 is an elevation, partly broken away, showing the fluid motor apparatus in one position of operation with the bucket at the top of its travel, the solid lines representing the dumping position and the dotted lines the receiving or righted position of the bucket.

Fig. 3 is an elevation, partly broken away, illustrating the fluid motor in the other position of its operation with a bucket at the,

bottom of its travel, the solid lines repre- I 'senting the receiving position and the dotted lines the dumping position of the bucket.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the magnetic control device used for shifting the intermediate water distributor.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the intermediate water distributer showing the lower guide and suspension frame for the bucket.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the intermediate water distributor.

Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the bucket piiotally mounted in its supporting frame; an

Fig. 8 is a side view of the bucket.

Like numerals refer to like parts.

In the form of apparatus herein illustrated the check draft door or lower damper of a heating unit is'assumed to be open and the flue or upper damper closed when the bucket is'at the top of the travel and empty, and the lower damper assumed to be closed and the upper damper open when the bucket is at the ottom of its travel and filled,

' though the arrangement may obviously be reversed.

The general scheme of'the apparatus contemplates a thermostatic circuit closer'which on rise or fall of. the temperature to a predetermined point above or below theadopted normal causes completion .of one or-the other of two circuits, the energization of a magnet in the circuit so closed, the attraction of an armature and the consequent tilting of a Water shed intermediate water delivery member which discharges into one or the other of two receptacles formed in a bucket so that one receptacle will fill and cause the bucket to right itself from a dumped position, the bucket'filli'ngiand descending and thereby causing the lower damper to close and the upper damper to open. Upon change of position and the oscillation of the intermediate distributor the receptacle within the bucket on the opposite side from that first mentioned is filled, causing the bucket to be overbalanced so that its contents are allowed to escape, thereby allowing the bucket to rise and the dampers to resume their normal position."

Referring in'detail to the drawings 1 rep: resents a type of steam heater provided with dampers 2 which may be of any number or size and located at the different parts of the heater as may be desired. 3 represents a bottom of the grate and the damper at the upper ventilating pipe or check draft as it is called. A suitable arm 3 is pivoted to a convenient support and connected to operate the chain 3 by its connection at the other end of the arm to the fluid motor which will be presently described.

A thermostat 4 located wherever necessary registers the extremes of temperature and closes one or the other of two electric circuits. The hot side of the thermostat is connected by means of the conducting wire 1 to the winding on the core of a magnet 6, suitable power being supplied by the dry cells 1*. The cold side of the thermostat is connected in a similar manner by the connecting wire 4 to another magnet 5. Pivotally mounted between the two magnets 5 and 6 is an armature member 7 carrying at its upper end a contact surface and insulating blocks on either side thereof. The members 8 act as brushes to alternately engage the contact surface during the oscillating movement of the armature block whenever the latter is acted on by the magnets, it being obvious that thesdbrushes are rigidly fastened with respect *to the magnets. A connecting rod 9 transmits the motion of the armature to the water-shed 10.

Referring to Fig. 5, the water-shed 10 is pivoted at its lower end on suitable trunnions and is supported by the bracket 11 secured to the back of the receptacle 12. 10 and 10 are the delivery spouts for the water-shed connecting with the openings at the top as shown in section in Fig. 6. The rectangular slot in the bracket 11 serves as a guide for the bucket suspension rod 13.

The bucket 14 constitutes the fluid pressure motor herein mentioned and is supported on the trunnions 15 carried by the suspension rod frame 16 below the rod 13 and is provided with the limit stops 17 and 18, these stops causing its rotation about its horizontal axis to be limited to a movement. The right side of the bucket is cut away, Fig. 8, at 14: near the top to allow for an overflow before the bucket is entirely filled with water and also an open path for the dropping water when the bucket is dumped, illustrated in solid lines in Fig. 2. Fig. 2 in dotted lines shows the empty bucket at the top of its travel, being held in its righted position by the weight of the ball 19 in the sealed tube 20 which will presently be described. In Fig. 2, solid lines the bucket is shown in its dumped position.

In Fig. 3 the bucket is shown filled at the bottom of its travel, in solid lines, and in its righted position, the dumped position being illustrated in dotted lines. The bucket is so constructed that it occupies either the righted position or the dumped position,

but cannot remain in any intermediate position. This is accomplished by the receptacles 21 and 22 built into the body of the bucket together with the weight of the ball 19 in the sealed tube 20. The receptacle 21 is so placed that it will be'directly under the spout 10 of the water shed throughout the entire vertical travel of the bucket and will catch all water issuing from said spout when the bucket is in the righted position but will not catch the water issuing from the spout 10 when the bucket is in its dumped position. The receptacle 22 is so mounted thatit is directly beneath the spout 10 and will catch all water issuingfrom said spout when the bucket is in' its dumped position but will not catch the discharge from this spout when the bucket is in the righted position. The sealed tube 20 holding the ball 19 is inclined to the horizontal at an angle of about 10 which is amply sufficient to insure that the ball resumes its position at the right end of the tube when the bucket is in its righted position (see dotted lines in Fig. 2). The ball 19 when in the right hand end of the tube 20 is of suflicient weight to keep the stop 17 firmly pressed against the frame 16 and retain the bucket in its righted position as long as the receptacle 21 is empty, and counterbalance the buoyancy of the empty receptacle 21 when the main receptacle 23 of the bucket is filled as shown in Fig. 7.

The .receptacle 21 when filled with water is however large enough to overcome the weight of the ball 19 and cause the bucket 14: and the tube 20 to be tilted enough to cause the ball 19 to roll toward the left hand end of the tube. The bucket 14 being-thus relieved of the weight of the ball on the right of its axis is caused to rotate in a counterclockwise direction and dump its contents from its main receptacle 23 out through the restricted discharge opening 23, as well as clearing the receptacle 21 of itscontents. The weight of the ball and the tube in the dumped position hold the bucket thus until the receptacle v22 is filled, causing a rotation of-the bucket in a clockwise dlrectlon. The receptacle 22 is large enough when filled to overcome the weight of the ball 19 and the tube 20 and cause the empty bucket to resume its righted receiving position, return the ball to the right hand end of the tube and dump the receptacle 22. The supply'pipe 24 is connected to any suitable source of water supply and the valve 25 so controls the flow of water to the water shed 10 that this flow may be reduced to drops.

The box or receptacle 12 inclosing the bucket 14 or fluid motor as it is called is so formed that there is practically no opening therein for the passage of air from the inside of the box to the outside or vice versa. The object of this practically air tight structure being used is to prevent the rapid evaporation of the fluid medium used to operate the motor. Where so-called hard water or any fluid is used in which there is a large amount of lime in solution, rapid evaporation causes the rapid forming of casing in order to completely close the opening through which the pipe enters the casing.

The bottom of the receptacle or casing 12 is provided with an air seal to further guarantee against the possible flow of air through the outlet pipe. A tube is fitted into the outlet opening 26 to project upwardly inside of the casing and is recurved so that its end points downwardly. Discharged water dumped from the bucket 14 falls to the bottom of the receptacle and covers the opening and end of the recurved tube. The level of the water rises until it reaches the lower side of the curve of the tube, finally escaping upwardly in the tube and around the bend therein, the passage of air back through the tube being effectively prevented by the water seal surrounding the same. I

Referring again to the connections be tween the fluid motor and the heating unit, the lever 3 mentioned before is suitably pivoted and supported and is attached to the chain that connects the two dampers of the furnace, a suitable counterweight being provided to counterbalance this lever. It is desirable that this be sufficiently heavy to overbalance the weight of the lever 3", the weight of the damper and the weight of the bucket and supports when the bucket is empty, thereby causing the bucket to remain at the top of its travel. A safety device is provided to operate the dampers in event that the motor does not operate and the heating unit be heated to a dangerously high temperature. This device comprises the chain 3 which is free to slip through a hole in the lever 28 of the pressure'control 30. The chain 3 is provided With the stop 29 arranged to engage the lever 28 to cause the dampers to be operated by the pressure control should the regulator fail from any cause to act before a high pressure is reached in the boiler. thereby rendering the apparatus perfectly safe.

The apparatus being constructed as above set forth and connected in the manner described, the operation is substantially as follows. The armature 7 as shown in Fig, 3 is drawn over to the left or toward the electro-magnet 6 which would indicate that it was last actuated through a rise of temperature, the circuit being through the hot side. of the thermostat. It will be noted that in thus moving to the left the armature 7 carries the contact surface at its upper end out of contact with' the shortest brush 8 which is electrically connected through the magnet 6 in circuit with the hot side of the thermostat. Hence it is impossible to again complete the circuit through the hot side until the armature 7 is again attracted by the thermostat changing to the cold side to close the other circuit.

Assuming that the operation on the cold side of the thermostat has returned the bucket to the top of its travel in its dumped position and a rise in temperature has caused the water shed 10 to be movedto the left, thefwater from the spout 10 will accumulate in the receptacle 22, overcome the weight of the ball 19 in the tube 20 and cause the bucket to right itself and at the same time empty the receptacle 22. The bucket thus righted fills and overcomes the weight of the counterweight, the damper moving downward and closing the lower and opening the upper damper with the resultant pressure in the boiler and consequent lowering of the temperature at the location of the thermostat. When the bucket has reached the lower end of its travel the water fills it to overflowing and the waste passes over the edge 14 running out the pipe 26, So long as there is no reduction in temperature the water will continue to flow from the spout 10 into and out of the bucket 14 While it is in the righted position. Should the temperature fall to-a predetermined point the contact member of the thermostat will move to the cold side ofthe device, the

5 and reestablishing the circuit connections of the magnet 6. This last mentioned circuit however will be immediately broken in the thermostat by reason of the fact that the contact member of the thermostat has swung to the cold side and away from the point of contact on the hot side. The movement of the armature 7 to the right will cause the water shed 10 to tip, water being delivered into the other'side' of the member 10 and out of the spout 10 flow from the spot 1O immediately ceasing. Water will'then collect in the receptacle 21, overcome the weight of the ball 19 and will tip the bucket slightly until the tube 20 is incompleted I clined sufficient to cause the ball 19-to roll toward the center or the left hand of the tube. The system thus being relieved of its weight will cause greater moment to be applied to the left of the trunnions 15 and the bucket will be promptly dumped. Water in the bucket discharges through the small orifice 23 relatively slowly as compared to the time of dumping and the damper will be returned without a jar as the bucket rises. Vhen the bucket is relieved of its weight of water and returns to the top of its travel within the casing it remains in the dumped position, water issuing from the spout 1O falls on the side of the receptacle 21 and passes out of the opening 23" into the bottom of the casing and out past the recurved pipe constituting the air seal. So long as the temperature of the room in which the thermostat is located does not rise above the predetermined limit the parts remain as shown in solid lines in Fig. 2.

It will be understood from the foregoing that the electric circuit is at no time completed-for more than an instant, being immediately opened through the action of the electric magnet and the circuit breaker in the circuit which it thus completes, hence current consumption is reduced to a minimum. It will also be observed that the parts moved by the magnets are small and light and offer no resistance to a light battery current, the result being that expense is reduced to a minimum. The power required to move the dampers is gained directly by the weight of the Water in the bucket connected by a simple lever to the dampers or other members to be operated. It will be noted that the force of the weight of water acts'independently of the electric or magnetic devices which serve merely to determine the direction of the delivery of the water. It will be observed that whether the bucket makes a full or only a partial movement, or whether it acts or fails to act the electric circuits will not be thereby affected, but will be momentarily completed and almost instantly broken when the thermostat only, establishes contact or connection with either side of the circuit.

Under the above described construction the damper or other member to be moved will not be instantly moved upon the shifting of the thermostat bar into contact with one or the other circuits connected to the respective magnets, but that one or the other receptacle in the bucket must fill before such action takes place. The time required for such filling depends on and is controllable by the amount of water released from the valve in a given time. This may be further controlled by the lightness of construc tion of the bucket and its supports and the resultant change in the friction of the moving parts. The time required to fill the bucket and operate the general system against the weight of the levers and dampers will in general be' greater than the time required to dump the bucket and return it to its upper position. If the range of movement of the thermostat be made considerable the bucket shouldbe made to fill quickly, but if a slight range of temperatureis represented in the extreme movements of the thermostat more time should be allowed for the filling of the bucket. In this Way a double combination of control means is afforded.

In speaking of a draft or damper, or door to be operated these terms and the system including the heating unit illustrated are used merely for the purpose of description and illustration, it being obvious that any combination may be had in which the novel fluid motor above described maybe used to operate the members at hand. So also While the object of the apparatus is illustrated and described as arranged to control temperature and means controlling the devices used in heating systems for that purpose nevertheless the invention is not restricted to this use but may be used wherever a fluid pressure motor may be brought into use.

It will be clear from the foregoing also that a fluid pressure motor is provided which is unusually compact and simple in its construction, occupying but a minimum amount of space and requiring but little material to operate the motor.

In addition to the above important features this fluid pressure motor by its construction avoids the unfortunate formation of concretions where hard water is used, which feature has been difficult to solve in fluid pressure motor heretofore used for any purpose.

Changes in the structure, relative location of parts, material and operation may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a temperature-controlling apparatus of the character described, the combination of a fluid pressure motor for actuating dampers comprising a unitary actuating member pivoted ad acent. its center of gravity to oscillate on its horizontal axis in a substantially vertical plane, a main receptacle centrally located in said actuating member, a separate and independent balance receptacle in said unitary actuating member on either side of the horizontal axis of the same, and an intermediate delivery device adapted to deliver a fluid to either balance receptacle at will, one balance receptacle being in its receiving position when the other balance receptacle and main receptacle are in their discharge positions.

2. In a temperature-controlling apparatus of the character described, the combil ..mo'.1nted to deliver fluid to either balance member, a separate and independent balance receptacle in said unitary actuating member on either side of the horizontal axis of the same, an intermediate delivery device receptacle at will, and means to vary position of said intermediate delivery device,

. one balance receptacle being in its receiving position when the other balance receptacle and main receptacle are in their discharge positions. I

-' 3. In a' temperature-controlling apparatus of the character described, the combination of a fluid pressure motor for actuating dampers comprising a unitary actuating member pivoted adjacent its center of; gravity to oscillate on its horizontal axis in a substantially vertical plane, a'main receptacle centrally located in said actuating member, a separate and independent balance receptacle in said unitary actuating member on either side of the horizontal 'axis of the same, an intermediate delivery device mounted to deliver fluid to either balance receptacle at will, connecting means between the dampers and said motor, and a movable supplemental weight on said unitary actuating member arranged to accelerate the movement of the latter as the member turns on its horizontal axis, one balance receptacle being in its receiving position'when the other balance receptacle and main receptacle are in their discharge positions.

4. In a temperature-controlling apparatus of the character described, the combination of a fluid pressure motor for actuating dampers comprisin a unitary actuating member pivoted ad acen t its center of gravity to osclllate on its horizontal axis tary actuating in a substantially vertical receptacle centrally located 1n-said actuatmg member, a separate and independent balance receptacle in said unitaryactuating member on either side of the horizontal axls of the same, an intermediate delivery device mounted to deliver fluid to either balance receptacle at will, connecting means plane, a main between the dampers and said motor,'one balance receptacle being in its 1 receiving position when the other balance receptacle and main receptacle are in their discharge positions, whereby the weight of the unitary actu crate to move thedampers.

5, In an apparatus of the character de-- pressure motor com rising adjascribed, a fluid a unitary actuatmg-member pivote ating member and its contents opcent its center of gravity to. oscillate on its horizontal axis in a substantially vertical plane, a main receptacle centrally located in said actuating member, and separate and independent balance receptacles in said unimember on either side of its horizontal axis. 6. In an apparatus of the character described, a fluid pressure motor comprising a' unitary actuating member pivoted adjacent its center of gravity to oscillate on its horizontal axis in a substantially vertical plane, a main receptacle centrally located in said actuating member, a separate inde-' pendent balance receptacle in said unitary actuating member on either side of its horizontal axis, and a movable supplemental weight on said unitary actuating member arranged to accelerate the movement of the latter when turned'on its horizontal axis.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

. CARLETON ULA EDWARDS. Witnesses: I

R. C. FITZHUGH, C.'S. GRUMMAN. 

